Wouldn’t it be nice to have a crystal ball so you could “see” what magical combination of knowledge, skills and abilities that employers are looking for in candidates? I think we could all agree that having such abilities would certainly help as we interview for positions, right? Kind of like having the answers to the test as we study.

Well, hopefully this article can serve as an “answer key” for you as you prepare your resume or get ready for interviews.

We know that every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job-seekers that match the skills necessary to perform a particular job. But time and time again, interviewing managers have stated that they rarely focus solely on the listed attributes listed on the position description. It is expected that if you are applying for the position that you have the minimal basic skill set needed to perform the position. A first-review of the resume usually allows the hiring manager to access this. So the question still remains…what is it that employers are looking for?

There are certain skills and attributes that are universally sought by employers. Most likely you possess one or more of these attributes which is certainly good news! Even better news is that the attributes that employers seek are those that you can improve upon through training, professional development, or obtaining coaching/mentoring from someone who understands these skills.

Once you understand the skills and attributes that most employers seek, you can tailor your job-search marketing and communications (your resume, cover letter, and interview language) -- to highlight how well your background aligns with common employer requirements.

There have been numerous studies have identified these critical employability skills, sometimes referred to as "soft skills" or “transferrable skills”. The following are some of the most frequently motioned skills from hiring managers. I have also provided some samples of how you can highlight these attributes in your resume, cover letter and interview talking points.

What Google™ Says:

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